Shock absorber



April 17, 1928.

.J.'R. SNYDER SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Oct. l0. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN -mm1 'N wml i??? Wm my@ April 17, 1928. 1,666,357

J. R. sNYDER SHOCK ABS ORBER `Filed Oct; 1Q. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lvzv s712607# mmmgmm Patented Apr. 17, 1928.`

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB R. SNYDER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STAB REBOUND- CON- l TROLLER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF "OHIO.

SHOCK .insommaY Application med october io, 1924. serial No. 742,785.

This invent-ion relates to shock absorbers of the type illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,502,755, granted July 29, 1924, and it embraces certain improvements thereon, the object being to improve the operation and the life or durability of tlieshockabsorber.

In .one aspect the invention relates to an improved means of connecting the outer end of the coil spring to the drum and to the belt or strap which is adapted to be wound onto and unwound from the drum, the `attaching means serving also as a support for the outer portion of the spring for a purpose to be explained.

In another aspect the invention relates to certain details of the drumrby which better lubrication is provided at the sides thereof which are engaged bythe relatively stationary friction disks.`

The invention may be -further briefiy summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations Vand arrangement-s of parts which will be 'described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the improved shock absorber, the section being in the plane of the axis; Fig. 2 is a side view with a part of the casing and certain other parts removed, and

the parts in section; Fig. Sis a. similar view with a. portion of the spiral spring removed and certain portions in section substantially along the line V3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is an edge view of the drum showing the means for supporting the outer convolution of the drum, and for attaching it and the spring to the drum; and Figs.5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of the drum showing slightly different modifications in the Way of vlubricating the side surfaces of the drum.

As the present shock absorber, aside :from certain improvements `tobe referred to, is similar Yto that of my prior patent, a brief description ofthe main elementswillV suice. c VThe shock absorber includes a lstationary center-bolt 10, onto whichis .screwed a fitting member 11, adapted to be employed in fastening the shock absorber to the chassis frame of'va motor vehicle, this shock absorber,

like that of my patent, being adapted particularly for motor vehicle use.

Rotatable about the central annular part of the center-bolt is a drum 12, preferably formed ofoil impregnated wood, the drum' being adapted to receive a belt or straplB. At the side ofthev drum is al coil or clock type sprinfr 14 the inner end of which is held stationaryrbyl being attached to a spring support 14El non-rotatably fitted Vonto the centerbolt. The outer end of this spring is adapted to be connected to the drum in the man-V ner hereinafter explained.

The drum is rotated in both directions as the belt is unwound and wound onto the drum. That is to say, during'the compression movement of the main Springs of the vehicle, the drum is rotated in one direction so as to wind the strap thereon, and during the rebound movement the .pull on `the strap rotates the drum in Vthe opposite directionV so thatthe strapyis unwound or uncoiled from the drum and the spring 14 is'wound u Both movements of the drum are frictionally opposed by a pair of friction disks 15 and 16 which engage opposite sides of .the drum, these friction disks being held sta tionary, the disk 15 .being inv this instance clamped against the shoulder of the centerboltby the nut or fitting member 11, land the disk 16 being pressed yieldingly against the drum, and thelatter against the disk 15 by the action of an external spring 17, lthe tension of which'can be adjusted by turning a cap-screw 18 in the end of the centerebolt, an indicator 19 being preferably provided as an indication spring 17.

-T he shock absorber also includes a stationary casing or housing consisting of two telescopic parts 20 and 21, the former being clamped against the outer side `of friction disk 15 by the nut 11, andthe casing part'21 being fitted on "the end ofthe spring support 14. f As in my prior patent, the pressure of spring 17 is transmitted from the casing part 21 Vthrough the .spring support 14a to the riction'disk y16. Y

In my prior patent referred to, the youter end of the coilspring 14 is connected to the inner end of the strap by means of a swivel of the tension imposed in hook, capable of swinging in and out as the spring coils up and uncoils. That is to say, there is no direct mechanical connection between the spring or strap and the drum, although the tension of the spring 14 and t-he resistance to drum movement created by the friction of disks v15 .and 16 are-so proportioned that the drum is rotated by the aetion of the spring on the belt during the compression'movement of the main springs, as already stated, the tension of the spring keeping the belt sufficiently tight on the drum so that the drinn is rotated as the strap is Wound onto it by the spring, and, of course, it is rotated in the oppositedirection as the belt is pulled rout during the rebound stroke. rthat construction was found to ansiver the purpose, but resulted in some noise as the spring was coiled up and uncoiled, and there was an unnecessary flexing of the springvby reason ofthe fact that itivas not maintained concentric, or substantially concentricivith the axis of Athe shock absorber.

drum a curved plate 22, which in this lith the present construction, the spring, strap; anddrum are fastened together, and the outer portion ofthesprin/ is supported by a fastening element. rlhis result is obtained by attaching to the periphery of the instance extends for about 300 about the periphery of the drinn, but its circumferential length may increase or decrease as may be found necessary. 'As vwill be seen by ref erence to Fig. 1, the plate 92 extendslaterally of the drinn and the end portion of the outer convolution of the spring extends over and rests upon this plate and is secured to it byV any suitable means, in this instance by a short bolt 23. flhus the laterally projecting portion of plate 22 forms a rigid support for the outer end of the spring, this support being curved in coiiforii'iity with the annular ciii'vatiueo'i' the drum and in sub- Stantial accordance ivitli the actual curvature of the spring, the result being that this member forms the attaching means for the spring and serves to support the outer convolution of, the spring, and to keep the spring substantially concentric so that the variousv coils are in the main kept out of engagement with each other when the shock absorber is in action, and the spring is therefore substantially noiseless and the liability of crystallization is minimized.

' The strap 13 is also fastened to this plate 22, and this is preferably accomplished by riveting or otherwise fastening to the end of the strap ametalclip 24, and by hookingl this clipV to the plate. rlhis iswdone preferably bypunching fromv the center of `the Aplate 22, 'an upstanding lsubstantially 'l'- shapedlug 25, and by providing an opening in the clip of suiiicient length and Width that by turning the clip at right angles to thej'position Which it normally assumes'on the drum, then extending the lug through the opening ofthe clip, and then turning the clip to its natural position on the drum, the clip is prevented from becoming disengaged from the lug.

The plate :22 may be fastened tothe peripheryot the drum in different Ways, but I prefer to encircle the periphery of the drinn with a'relatively thin metal strip 26, preferably provided. at its edges with outwardly extending flanges 27 to serve as guides for the strap 13. rhe strip 26 Vis fastened to the periphery of the drinn preferably by driving 'into the drinn spurs 28 struck from the strip. 'lhen the plateQQ lis fastened to this strip Q6 iii any suitable ivay, but preferably by spotivelding. .in this manner the plate to which both the spring and the strap are attached is secured to the periphery of the drum inV an inexpensive but very effective manner. and at Athe saine time the intermediate element in the lform of the strip 26 which completely encircles the drinn and ilasteued toit` serves as a guide for the strap by reason of the peripheral outstanding flanges 27.

it ivill be observed, particularly by reference to Fig. 4, that the T-shaped lug 25 is on the center line ofthe plate 22, and that the laterally .projecting portion of the plate has tivo openings designated 22, vto receive the bolt for attachingkrthe lspring thereto. These features insure universal adaptation of the drum, i. e; they enablethe drunito function in a clockwise or counter-clockwise shock absorber WithoutV changing any of the pai'ts. That is to say, the direction in i'vhicli the spring, and strap extend can beV reversed with respect to the drinn.

Another `feature involves the more etliective lubrication of the surfaces of the driiiii than is obtained merely by fthe oil impregnation of the drinn. ln accorda nce ivitli the present invention,` the driiiii is provided With greasev or lubricant' filled pockets, WhichA open out to opposite sides of the drum, ivhero `the sides are engaged Vby the friction disks 15 'and V16. These openings may extend only part way tliroiigliihe drinn from opposite sides, asshoivii at iii Fig. l, or they may extend entirely through the drum, as shonn at 28 iii 5. lu either event-they are preferalgily staggered' so thaty as `4the drinn rotates between the friction disks, practically all portions of the drinn engaging surfacestliereof will receive hibrication. Al stiff but semi-soft lubricant may be employed, or a hard lubricant ofthe graphitic type may be utilized, as illustrated at 28brin Fig. 6. In this event, springs 28C may be employed behind the lubricant pieces to pressv them yieldingly Voutward against the friction disks. y Y

By these improvements, sti-called dry spots on the friction disks are eliminated,

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and the rubbing or sliding action ofthe drum on the disks is rendered noiseless. It might be stated that in my prior patent the oil impregnationof the drum alone Was relied on, and While that answered the purpose quite effectively, I find that the additional lubrication as contemplated herein, is even more effective, as it practically eliminates 4all noise from the rubbing surfaces. Even after long use the drum shows practically no Wear.

By the improvements above explained, the shock absorber is rendered practically noiseless in action, the life or durability of the parts is increased, and the spring breakage due tocrystallization is minimized.

I do not desire to be confined to the precise details showmbut aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A shock absorber comprising a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and unwound therefrom, a spring for rotating the drum in one direction, and a combined attaching means and springsupport extending from the side of the drum.

2. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and un- Wound therefrom, a spring for rotating the drum inv one direction, and a. member projecting laterally from the drum, the outer portion of the spring being supported on this member and attached to it.

3. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and un- Wound therefrom, a spring for rotating the drum in one direction and an aro-shaped plate secured to the drum and projecting laterally therefrom, a portion of the outer convolution of the spring being supported by said plate.

4:. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and un- Wound therefrom, a spring for Protating the drum in one direction and an arc-shaped plate secured to the drum and extending between the two outermost convolutions of the spring, said spring being attached to the plate.

5. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and univound therefrom, a spring for rotating the drum in one direction and a member atwound therefrom, and an arc-shaped plate Vattached to the periphery of the drum, and

having means to which the end of the strap is attached.

7. Ina shock absorber, a. rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and u n- Wound therefrom, and a strip enveloping the drum and attached thereto, and having means to Which the strap is attached.

8. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and unwound therefrom, a spring. associated with the drum, a strip enveloping the drum and attached thereto, and having means to which the outer end of the spring is attached.

9. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strip enveloping the drum and attached thereto, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and unwoun'd therefrom, and having means to which the inner end of the strap and the outer end of the spring are attached.

l0. In a shock absorber, ay rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and unwound therefrom, a spring associated with the drum, and a metal strip enveloping the drum and secured thereto, and having means to which the strap and spring are attached, said strip having outstanding means serving as a guide for the strap.

ll. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and un- Wound therefrom, a spring associated with the drum, and a metal strip enveloping the drum and secured thereto, and having means to which the strap and spring are attached, said strip having peripheral outstanding flanges serving as a guide for the strap.

l2. In a shock absorber, a rotatable drum, a strap adapted to be Wound onto and un- Wound therefrom, a. spring associated with the drinn, a strip enveloping the drum and attached thereto, and having a member Wit-h a portion to which the end of the strap is attached, and a laterally projecting portion to which the end of the spring is attached and on which it is supported.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JACOB R. SNYDER. 

